According to IPSA’s anonymous polling 69% of MPs want to milk the taxpayer of even more cash, so why are they all being so shy in public? This weekend only three were willing to go on the record to back their 11% pay rise.

David Ruffley says he is “minded to accept” being paid £76,000-a-year. That would be the same David Ruffley who Guido exposed for his “obnoxious” behaviour. Bright-eyed hopefuls leave his office in floods of tears, some being binned after only days. The same David Ruffley who claimed £1,674 for a sofa and £2,175 for a 46 inch HD television during the expenses scandal. Now he wants more.

Then there is Jack Straw, standing down but hoping to give his colleagues a nice farewell gift. During the expenses scandal Straw was accused of trying to prevent MPs’ claims from being published because he did not want the public to find out about renovations to his own home.

And thirdly Peter Bottomley, warned about excessive expenses claims in 2009 after demanding £6,000 for windows and £980 for bookshelves. He now thinks he deserves more of your money.

TV producers are struggling to find pundits to defend the rise today. They should start with these troughers…

Quote of the Day

Chuka Umunna on Seumas Milne re Russia:

“Have read the comments of the Leader of the Opposition’s spokesperson. Mr Milne’s comments do not represent the views of the majority of our voters, members or MPs. We’ll get abuse for saying so but where British lives have been put at risk it is important to be clear about this.”